Home Module 2: Prompt Engineering Lesson 2.1
Module 2: Prompt Engineering

What is a prompt? Your magic instruction

⏱ 20 min learn Ages 9 & 12
💡 The big idea

A prompt is your instruction to AI. The quality of what you get back depends almost entirely on the quality of what you put in. A vague prompt gets a vague answer. A precise, detailed prompt gets a precise, useful answer. Learning to write great prompts is one of the most valuable skills you can have right now.

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Explain it
"Giving directions to a friend — 'go somewhere' leaves them completely lost. 'Turn left at the post office, second road on the right, red door' — perfect. A prompt is your direction to AI. The more precisely you say what you want, the better it can help."
Weak vs strong — try both pairs
😴 Weak
"Tell me a story"
🚀 Strong
"Write a funny 3-paragraph story about a dragon who is scared of fire, for a 9-year-old, with a surprise happy ending"
Tell me a story
Write a funny 3-paragraph story about a dragon who is scared of fire, for a 9-year-old, with a surprise happy ending
🗣 Discuss: How different were the two answers? Which words in the strong prompt made the biggest difference?
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Lesson quiz — test yourself!
Wrap-up discussion questions
1️⃣ What is the difference between a weak prompt and a strong prompt?
2️⃣ Write a weak prompt about your favourite animal, then upgrade it yourself.
3️⃣ Why does giving AI more detail help it give better answers?
📍 Lesson 2.1 — Prompt Engineering
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